NEWS 7 Power confidence restored Renewable energy target deal expected to spark industry growth THE owner of the Woakwine Range wind farms has welcomed a deal on renewable energy targets which has recently been struck by the Federal Government and the Opposition. Infigen Energy managing director Miles George said the agreement will result in the restoration of largescale renewable energy investment across Australia, starting now and continuing until 2020. His company already has 112 wind turbines at the southern end of the Woakwine Range alongside Lake Bonney and has had development consent for the past three years for a further 124 turbines along the range to the north of Millicent. The expansion has been put on hold pending the resolution of the renewable energy target. The currently legislated 41,000 gigawatts target is not being maintained, but there is bipartisan agreement for the revised target of 33,000 gigawatts. It will require an 80pc increase in renewable energy generation from this year’s target of 18,000 gigawatts, According to Infigen Energy, the announcement by the Coalition and the Labor Party is now expected MP defends inquiry support MEMBER for MacKillop Mitch Williams has supported the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into jumps racing. Mr Williams said he did not view jumps racing as being cruel to horses. He explained his youthful association with horses on his family’s farm at Mount Burr. “I grew up on a farm where my father was still using a horse to round up sheep,” Mr Williams said. “I grew up with a pony in the yard and I spent many hours on the back of a horse as a boy growing up. “I welcome Racing Minister Leon Bignell moving to establish an inquiry because it is important to get the facts out and to separate fact from fear.” He said that if the sector was assessed on its merits it was likely the inquiry would come to a conclusion that supported jumps racing. Mr Williams concluded his remarks with strong criticism of Australian Rules football. “Aussie Rules is probably one of the cruelest sports played in this country, yet there is no call for banning it,” he said. “What happens to young men and the crippled bodies that ensue from that sport I think it makes horseracing look like a very innocent pastime.” www.thesoutheasterntimes.com.au IN BRIEF MILLICENT is about to host the two day rural conference of the Australian Property Institute of South Australia. It will start this afternoon at the Sandpipers@ Millicent motel and finishes tomorrow. The conference will provide a snapshot of the current regional market. Cancer focus EXTRA ENERGY: An agreement between the Federal Government and the Opposition could lead to additional wind turbines being erected at places like the Woakwine Range. to lead to a legislated resolution of the stalemate that has effectively prevented all investment in large-scale renewable energy for the past 18 months. Mr George said the resolution would enable the renewable energy industry to get back to investing in new clean energy infrastructure to meet the targets and revive the transition of Australia’s electricity generation industry to a more sustainable future. He said his company was pleased that the Federal Government had recognised the significant economic and environmental benefits that renewable energy brings to the Australian economy, businesses and households. “We also recognise the hard work of many Liberal and Labor MPs in reaching this bipartisan position,” Mr George said. “Legislative certainty is the key component of an efficient and effective renewable energy target scheme. “This certainty makes it necessary for liable parties to assess their future legal liabilities and to take appropriate action to meet those liabilities through contract- Greens look into seaweed collection SOUTH Australian Greens leader Mark Parnell has highlighted concerns about the possible extension of seaweed harvesting along the South East coast. The Snuggery-based Gather Great Ocean Group has lodged an application to extend its current licence, which is held by its subsidiary Australian Kelp Products. Southend residents have contacted Mr Parnell with their worries about the environmental impact of the expansion. As a result, Mr Parnell met in Adelaide on Monday with key government personnel. In his correspondence to the Southend residents, the Greens leader said that he had heard from representatives from the Environment Department, PIRSA Fisheries, Department of State Development and the offices of Environment Minister Ian Hunter and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell. Following his briefing, Mr Parnell said the current set of permit conditions were being rewritten to take into account the expanded project. “They will include requirements imposed by the Federal Government under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Mr Parnell said. “In my honest opinion, the cur- rent seaweed collection permit conditions are completely inadequate. “The consultation about the extension that has occurred so far has been with targeted stakeholders such as scientists and export regulators. “The State Government assures me that a full round of public consultation is imminent.” Mr Parnell said the proposal had triggered the EPBC Act primarily because of potential impacts on migratory bird species. “Apparently the need for an export permit has also triggered a Federal Government environmental assessment,” he said. “Historically, the harvested seaweed has been used for fertiliser and stock feed, but also for abalone feed in the aquaculture operations over on the West Coast. “The new owners of the business are exploring new products and new markets, including human consumption. “I have asked for a list of the people the State Government has already consulted and also a copy of any scientific advice they have received.” He said former South Australian Research and Development Institute chief scientist at Professor Anthony Cheshire was one of the experts. With a background in environmental law, Mr Parnell has determined that the Native Vegetation Act does not apply to the collection of “dead” seaweed following a change to legislation two years ago. “The Environment Department claimed that the Native Vegetation Act has never applied because the seaweed had become detached from the seabed, however I’m not sure that is legally correct,” he said. Mr Parnell has recommended to the Southend residents that they continue to keep Liberal member for MacKillop Mitch Williams aware of their concerns. 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